I'm very pleased (especially after today's entry under Tiki Mug Misfortunes) to show off our recently found Witco wall hanging. According to the 1964 catalog that's pictured in Tiki Modern, this is called "Color Cat." We were very fortunate to find this particular one, as its colors and carving both suit our living room colors quite well. It did mean adding a 3rd cat to the family, but the upkeep on this one is far less demanding than our 2 orange tabby cats.

Christy's holding it - it's about 5 feet wide:

Here's a closeup of the head part of the carving:

And here is our orange tabby Neko, giving her approval to the addition to the family:

And here's Neko with color cat in situ, over the fireplace. Ironically, the poster next to it is for a *WILCO* concert!

Cheers,
Rupe
_________________"I had never enjoyed a drink so much, or needed it so badly."
--Thor Heyerdahl, in 'Aku-Aku: The Secret of Easter Island'

HELP! I'm desperately seekin' the Witco piece with the framed "Jazz Band". I passed up 2 different auctions a few years ago and kick myself everyday when I do a search on eBay with no avail. Anyone out there got a lead on one? HELP! It's mah fav'rite!
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She's indeed a nice specimen. The quality of some Witco pieces does vary quite a bit, and the human features can be distorted in a rather "unfortunate" way.

The most amazing Witco find I had lately (not in the sense of owning it, but in an urban archeological sense) was during the recent L.A. Tiki tour:
We got to see sparklegem's house, which is a Palmer/Krisel mid-century modern they took over from the first owners, and it CAME with original Witco art in situ:

This Tahitian Maiden is hanging in the same place it hung when it was purchased in the 60s. Amazing.

On 2008-08-22 21:40, KAHAKA wrote:HELP! I'm desperately seekin' the Witco piece with the framed "Jazz Band". I passed up 2 different auctions a few years ago and kick myself everyday when I do a search on eBay with no avail. Anyone out there got a lead on one? HELP! It's mah fav'rite!

Tell me about it. I tried to find one before I put its evolution in Tiki Modern, to no avail...now, good luck to us both.

Wow, talk about progressive ideas in style... Look how low the car is in the car port. My car buddies and I sometimes debate about whether the old customizers would have used air ride had it been available. I think the artist would have agreed with us.

Yes, indeed. Thank you PTD. More and more pieces by him are surfacing. There is also a matchbook for the Woodcarver's Cafe on that page, which MUST have been another venture of the same Witco copyist. Here is a menu from Mimi's collection, (she also owns a Seattle Space Needle done Witco style by him):